OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL: WHERE ARE YOU?

MEMORISE : And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? Genesis 3 : 9.

READ : GENESIS 3 : 7 - 10.

7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : JOEL 1 - 3 ; PSALM 82.

Where are you? I am convinced that this question God asked Adam long ago is still relevant today. It is not expedient to wait for God to ask you this question. Rather, as part of a self examination process, you should introspectively ask yourself this question. A sincere approach in answering this question would do you a lot of good both in this world and in eternity.

From the day of his birth, a man begins a return journey to where he is from ( Ecclesiastes 12 : 1 - 7 ). This is why, with regard to official matters, you are not asked “how young are you?”, but rather you are asked how old you are. No matter how young you are, you are growing old day by day. Hence, God Himself is asking you: where are you now? You should therefore ask yourself regularly, ‘how far have I gone in fulfilling the purpose of my creation and salvation?’

To answer this serious question, you need to first of all answer some other questions like: “where was I yesterday?” It could be last week, last year or when you first got born-again. Next, you need to answer the question: “where am I now?” Consider Samson, who went from being a terror to the enemy to grinding corn in the prison of the enemy. Ask yourself, ‘am I going on to greater heights, winning more souls than before for Christ?’ Materially, have you moved from thirty fold, to sixty fold or to hundred fold increase? Or is your case that of moving in the reverse direction?

Are you increasing spiritually or decreasing? Are you increasing financially or decreasing? It is God’s will and it is His plan for you to grow spiritually, financially and all-round.

“Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” Psalm 35 : 27

If you are not growing, could it be that you have been eating your seed? Or maybe you are sowing sparingly ( 2 Corinthians 9 : 6 )? Perhaps, because you have been defaulting in your tithe, you are now working under a divine curse ( Malachi 3 : 8 - 10 )? As the Lord said to His people who experienced decrease in time past, He says to you now: consider your ways ( Haggai 1 : 5 - 7 ).

ACTION POINT :

Carry out a self-evaluation and cry to God about your findings.

AUTHOR : Pst E . A ADEBOYE.

Read More

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL: HEART: LIFE’S CONTROL TOWER.

MEMORISE : Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4 : 23.

READ : PROVERBS 4 : 20 - 23.
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : HOSEA 11 - 14 ; PSALM 81.
Physically, the heart’s role in keeping a man alive cannot be undermined. This organ is very crucial to human existence. In the non-empirical world, the heart of a man is that part of his soul that directs his physical actions. Jesus made this clear in Mark 7 : 18 - 23. It is this “heart” we are considering in this study. It is popularly said that “the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart”. This means that the core issues of life are matters of the heart. This is the crux of what our Bible reading today is saying in verse 23.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
What moulds a life comes from the heart. Ordinarily, the Bible says the heart is evil – deceitful and desperately wicked ( Jeremiah 17 : 9 ). After a man experiences the salvation of Jesus, the heart is impacted and made available for working upon by the word of God. It’s supposed to be a dwelling place for the word of God so that it can be transformed to bring forth virtues, victories and success. For this to be experienced in reality, the child of God needs as a matter of duty to work constantly on the heart through studying, meditating and memorising the word of God.
Basically, the heart of a man can be in any of these four states :
1)The roadside heart
2)The stony heart
3)The thorny heart
4)The good heart
Our Lord Jesus Christ explained these states in a parable he defined as the key to all other parables ( Mark 4 : 13 - 20 ). The state an individual’s heart assumes is the choice of the fellow. The heart is the place to receive knowledge, besides the head. Until knowledge is obtained in the heart, a person will not benefit from it. What kind of knowledge do you receive into your heart?
A working relationship between the heart and the mouth charts the course of a man’s life – whether good or bad. The mouth is the outlet of the heart; thus, the issues that mould a life are coming out of the heart through the mouth. The state of the heart is the true identity of a man. It is the place God looks at to relate to a man ( 1 Samuel 16 : 7 ).

ACTION POINT :
Examine your thought pattern in the mirror of Philippians 4:8 and pray accordingly.
AUTHOR : Pst E . A ADEBOYE.

Read More

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL :CONFRONT THIS ENEMY – FEAR.

MEMORISE : For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Romans 8 : 15.

READ : ISAIAH 41 : 10 - 14.

10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.

12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : HOSEA 6 - 10 ; PSALM 80 : 8 - 19.

The scripture is replete with statements of “fear not” from God to His people. Fear is one tool the enemy finds most useful in his hands in making the children of God suffer failure, pain and destruction of destiny. Often times, what people are afraid of is not real, but their minds paint an imaginary picture of the object or situation out of proportion and the enemy helps to blow it up. Thus people fear what they should not be afraid of.

On the other hand, there are some situations that are truly terrifying from a human perspective. Regarding such situations, the Lord our God still tells us not to be afraid. He expects us to know that with Him behind us and for us, no person, situation or thing can have us at its mercy. This is why in Isaiah 41 : 10 He says:

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Fear is an enemy; it paralyses the potential meant to be deployed for activities that lead to greatness. The Bible says fear has torment ( 1 John 4 : 18 ). Fear makes its victim disobedient to God. It deceives its victim into magnifying a challenging situation above God. Such was the case of King Saul who confessed that he had sinned because he feared the people and obeyed their voice against the instruction of God (1 Samuel 15:24). Being fearful is a sin that can lead to an eternity in the Lake of Fire.( Revelation 21 : 8 ).

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Of all the listed sins above, being fearful is number one on the list. You have no business being fearful. Jesus our Lord is greater than any human being no matter his status. He is greater than any witch or wizard; Satan their master is no match for Him. In fact, Colossians 2 : 10 says Jesus is the head of all principalities and powers. Isaiah 8 : 12 - 13 says we should not fear any gang-up against us, rather, God alone should be feared. Once we fear God, we would have no one else to fear.

ACTION POINT :

Confront anything, person or situation tending to make you afraid in the Name of Jesus. Command the spirit of fear to depart from you in Jesus’ Name.

AUTHOR : Pst E . A ADEBOYE.

Read More

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL : PEACE ALL-ROUND II

Memorise: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Hebrews 12:15

Read: Hebrews 12:14-15
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : HOSEA 1-5 and PSALM 80:1-7
Message
Although there are different dimensions of peace, the highest level of peace a man can attain is peace with God through Jesus Christ. Know this however: the fact that you are a child of God and love God does not necessarily imply you will not have problems. A fearful situation automatically erodes peace of mind unless if as a child of God you put your trust in Him (Isaiah 26:3).
The character flaws of a Christian can be detrimental to the flourishing of the peace given by our Lord Jesus Christ. One character flaw top on this list is bitterness. Bitterness can grow and even take root in a heart. The root of bitterness stops the children of God from enjoying the peace of God. While the root of bitterness in the heart of an individual will affect other people around, a big chunk of the adverse effect of this evil root is on the individual harbouring it. The root of bitterness in a heart creates room for hatred, envy and anger; it is undoubtedly a harbinger of unforgiveness. It also makes for unhappiness. The phrase “root of bitterness” itself gives one an idea of what this stuff offers – all-round bitterness. It results in bitter experiences, smothering joy and peace. How does it originate? It comes when one feels unfairly treated by another person or an organisation. It comes from a feeling of being injured whether physically, emotionally or otherwise. For instance, a sister in courtship that is jilted, a spouse that is cheated upon by his/her partner, an employee that is short-changed, a case of great disappointment such that high hopes were dashed, death of a loved one, case of rape and others. All these are negative experiences that no one would desire, and I pray you will never experience anything of these sorts in Jesus’ Name. In case you are grappling with the root of bitterness resulting from whatever previous experiences you’ve had, please note that it is not in your best interest to keep it. Bitterness eats up its host; it affects the physical wellbeing of an individual, as well as causing a strained relationship with God.
There was a man whose wife died sometime ago, leaving behind an only daughter with a striking resemblance to the mother. The daughter was the only existing consolation to this man. This lady’s husband turned out to be something else, maltreating the lady to the point of threatening her life. The root of bitterness that sprang up in the lady’s father resulted in him becoming swollen, defying all medical care. He only became alright after forgiving his son-in-law.

Action Point
Check your heart to ensure no bitterness is taking root there. If there is any trace of it, let go of it and pray for the healing of your soul.
AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE

Read More

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL: IT SHALL BE WELL.

MEMORISE : Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Isaiah 3 : 10.

READ : ISAIAH 3 : 10 - 11.
10 Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : DANIEL 7 - 8; PSALM 78 : 40 - 55.
The importance attributed to a statement depends on who is making it.
“Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.” Isaiah 3 : 10
The person that made the above statement is none other than the Alpha and Omega Himself. He made this statement because He knows tomorrow. Of course, He knows that the tomorrow of the righteous is beautiful in Him. There is no way anyone can be righteous without being in Christ. Basically, Jesus is our righteousness. He makes us righteous so that we can continue to live in righteousness by His power. Hence, “the righteous” that this statement applies to, is not the one who says that because Christ has been made our righteousness, it does not matter how we continue to live. No, it is a mockery of the whole sacrifice of Jesus, if He saved us from sin only for us to continue to live in sin, because He is our righteousness. People who live by this understanding are self deluded and have allowed Satan to deceive them. For the child of God living uprightly, it doesn’t matter how things may be around you now, your Father says “It shall be well with you”.
Not only is He faithful to His promises, He also has the power to bring to pass whatever He says. This statement can mean different things to different people. To the sick, it means he will be healed; to the poor, it means his wealth is on the way, for it is He who gives power to get wealth ( Deuteronomy 8 : 18 ) that says “all will be well”. To the captive, “all will be well” means freedom is here. His Name is the Lord of hosts ( Psalm 24 : 10 ). He will destroy all the forces behind your captivity. To the barren it means you shall conceive, for He is the One able to bring children out of stones ( Matthew 3 : 9 ). To the one who is a failure, it means success is coming: for He is the great promoter ( Psalm 75 : 6 - 7 ). How can we be so sure that all will be well, you probably would ask? It is because anytime He wants to do anything, He sends His word. For you a true child of God, who lives right and desires to please God always, I believe strongly that God wants to do something special in your life; divine intervention is around the corner. If your way has not been right with Him however, go to Him now in prayer and completely turn over your life to Him.

 ACTION POINT :
Thank God for His deep concern, provision for your well being and for the assurance of a glorious tomorrow.
AUTHOR : Pst E . A ADEBOYE.

Read More

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL: IT SHALL BE WELL.

MEMORISE : Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Isaiah 3 : 10.

READ : ISAIAH 3 : 10 - 11.
10 Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : DANIEL 7 - 8; PSALM 78 : 40 - 55.
The importance attributed to a statement depends on who is making it.
“Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.” Isaiah 3 : 10
The person that made the above statement is none other than the Alpha and Omega Himself. He made this statement because He knows tomorrow. Of course, He knows that the tomorrow of the righteous is beautiful in Him. There is no way anyone can be righteous without being in Christ. Basically, Jesus is our righteousness. He makes us righteous so that we can continue to live in righteousness by His power. Hence, “the righteous” that this statement applies to, is not the one who says that because Christ has been made our righteousness, it does not matter how we continue to live. No, it is a mockery of the whole sacrifice of Jesus, if He saved us from sin only for us to continue to live in sin, because He is our righteousness. People who live by this understanding are self deluded and have allowed Satan to deceive them. For the child of God living uprightly, it doesn’t matter how things may be around you now, your Father says “It shall be well with you”.
Not only is He faithful to His promises, He also has the power to bring to pass whatever He says. This statement can mean different things to different people. To the sick, it means he will be healed; to the poor, it means his wealth is on the way, for it is He who gives power to get wealth ( Deuteronomy 8 : 18 ) that says “all will be well”. To the captive, “all will be well” means freedom is here. His Name is the Lord of hosts ( Psalm 24 : 10 ). He will destroy all the forces behind your captivity. To the barren it means you shall conceive, for He is the One able to bring children out of stones ( Matthew 3 : 9 ). To the one who is a failure, it means success is coming: for He is the great promoter ( Psalm 75 : 6 - 7 ). How can we be so sure that all will be well, you probably would ask? It is because anytime He wants to do anything, He sends His word. For you a true child of God, who lives right and desires to please God always, I believe strongly that God wants to do something special in your life; divine intervention is around the corner. If your way has not been right with Him however, go to Him now in prayer and completely turn over your life to Him.

ACTION POINT :
Thank God for His deep concern, provision for your well being and for the assurance of a glorious tomorrow.
AUTHOR : Pst E . A ADEBOYE.

Read More

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL: THE BREVITY OF TIME.

MEMORISE : The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Romans 13 : 12.

READ : ROMANS 13 : 11 - 14.

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : DANIEL 3 : 1 - 4 : 33; PSALM 78 : 9 - 16.

How recklessly this age speeds on to self destruction! The word of God is accurate and authentic in its prediction of the latter end of the world and in warning His saints of the end times, so that they are not overtaken by the prevalence of evil in this age! In virtually every facet of life, there is an overturning of rightness. Theologically and philosophically, there is a denial of the absoluteness of truth, hence they talk of relativism i.e. right is relative; what is morally right to a people of culture A is not necessarily right to people of culture B. Thus, the culture of people is held higher and given prominence above the word of God. They stretch human rights beyond scripturally accepted limits – anything anybody’s warped mind desires should not be denied him though it is self destructive. Things that would receive outright condemnation some thirty years ago are now fashionable. Otherwise, what would you say about homosexuality, where presidents are giving public recognition and approval to gay practices? Not only that, they are threatening other nations that would not do same. There is an increasing degree of selfishness at the highest level, which makes few people in government enrich themselves and impoverish the masses. Domestic crimes have taken a worse turn, with incidents of husbands driving knives into the throat of their wife. Knowledge is increasing at an astronomical rate, giving rise to changing trends of technological sophistication. This in itself has affected human behaviour greatly, and sometimes, these technologies enable men to commit sophisticated dirty and wicked acts.

No doubt, the enemy knowing that his time is short is not sparing anything in his arsenal to destroy humanity and to infuriate God. In all these, you will not be a victim in Jesus’ Name. I pray for you that the dragnet of evil in this present time will not catch up with you in Jesus’ Name. The Bible says we are kept by the power of God ( 1 Peter 1 : 5 ). You must realise that all these evil things that are rampant nowadays are indicative of the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, you must live every moment in earnest expectation of Christ ( Titus 2 : 11 - 14 ). As one of the five wise virgins ( Matthew 25 : 1 - 9 ), you must have no time for idleness or idle talk. You should be busy serving the Lord, winning souls and living holy. You must also be prayerful, interceding for your family members and others.

ACTION POINT :

Check your commitment to Jesus and meditate on how you can fulfil the instructions in the memory verse.

AUTHOR : Pst E . A ADEBOYE.

Read More